Friday, January 2, 2015

Bills racing to interview Reich before he talks to Jets

BY NICK ST. DENIS

San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Frank Reich has been considered a top candidate in the Buffalo Bills' head coaching search.

But Reich is also on the rival New York Jets radar.

New York is slated to interview the former Bills quarterback (and temporary Jets quarterback) early next week, so Buffalo is doing its best to get in Reich's ear first.
According to The Buffalo News' Tim Graham, the Bills have an interview with Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase on Saturday, though the team's higher-ups "will zip straight from Denver to San Diego because they want Reich to hear their pitch first," Graham wrote Friday.

And the gamesmanship between the AFC East'ers continues, as former Bills coach Doug Marrone will interview with the Jets in the coming days, and former Jets coach Rex Ryan is being considered as a prospect in Buffalo.

Reich spent last season with the Chargers after coaching their quarterbacks in 2013. He spent time as an assistant with the Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals prior to his stint in San Diego.

Two decades ago, Reich was Jim Kelly's backup and led the Bills to a comeback victory in a 1992 Wild Card game after Buffalo trailed the Oilers 35-3 at halftime. He spent nine seasons with the Bills but also started seven games for the Jets in 1996, when Gang Green went 1-15.